Jeff Ward: Luke Messer's bill would move the swamp, not drain it

Indiana Rep. Luke Messer talks about several issues and standpoints on national issues affecting Hoosiers in this file photo from 2017. Messer is one of the Republican candidates vying to take Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly's seat.(Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)Buy Photo

The press release showed up in my in-box late Friday afternoon from Rep. Luke Messer's Senate campaign. Normally, many press releases get a quick glance and then are sent into electronic oblivion because they aren't pertinent to this newspaper's readers, or they're trying to sell a product that I (and you) don't need.

Not this one. The title, "Messer Introduces SWAMP Act to Relocate Federal Agency Headquarters" caught my attention. It's no surprise to anyone with a pulse that Messer, who represents much of East Central Indiana in the U.S. House, has an eye on Democrat Sen. Joe Donnelly's seat. He's also a strong Trump supporter.

And heck, who wouldn't want to see the "swamp" drained in Washington? So this release got a closer look.

Here's the gist: The SWAMP Act (there must be a law requiring all bills in Congress have catchy names in their titles) would require federal agencies to relocate their headquarters to places outside of Washington when a new facility is needed. SWAMP stands for Strategic Withdrawal of Agencies from Meaningful Placement Act.

Right now, all departments and agencies of the federal government are required to be located in the District of Columbia, unless Congress decides otherwise. So this act would spread federal agencies to who knows where.

Here comes a civics lesson: Washington, D.C., is the nation's capital, thanks to the donation of land by Maryland and Virginia, because planners wanted the government located in one place. It's convenient to those who work in government and those who call upon it.

►MESSER INTERVIEW: Rep. Messer discusses issues from 2017

It made good sense in 1791 when Washington was founded. It makes good sense today.

Messer's bill would change the definition of what it means to be a capital city.

His reasoning seems to have more to do with economic development than reclaiming swampy ground.

Buy Photo

Columnist Jeff Ward(Photo: The Star Press)

"There's no reason why the Department of Agriculture has to be in the District of Columbia when it could be located in Indiana or another heartland state," Messer said in his press release.

SWAMP prohibits federal agencies from any new construction, major renovations or lease agreements on existing headquarters within the Washington metro area.

States and local governments could submit bids to lure new government jobs under Messer's bill.

A study by Emsi and cited in the release estimates that 1.7 million jobs, or 52 percent of employment in Washington, is tied to the federal government. Messer said his bill would help drain the swamp and allow more communities to benefit from added jobs.

That works only if you believe what's wrong with Washington is its geography, not the bureaucrats who make government policy.

Decentralizing government agencies will make it harder to get things done, costing more time and more money. Make that, more of your money.

Suppose sometime in the future our local government and economic development leaders, along with some Chamber of Commerce members, want to talk to officials at the Department of Agriculture in Washington about regulations affecting a new type of corn. They might also want to talk to the Environmental Protection Agency because that new corn might affect a local ethanol plant's emissions. They might also want to speak to somebody from the Interstate Commerce Commission because the corn might be shipped across state lines. Now, imagine having to do the same thing with those three agencies located in three states. Cumbersome.

Yes, technology can come to the rescue to facilitate meetings, but it's still a poor substitute for in-person visits.

Look, I don't think this bill is going anywhere, and I don't think Messer believes it will, either. It's an exercise in seeing whether anyone is paying attention and getting Messer some publicity. In that regard, we are paying attention, and mission accomplished.

Draining the swamp has nothing to do with where a government building is located. It's about finding the right kind of people who want to put the country's interest above their own. It's about doing the greatest good, serving the people and not special interests.